52home

11:57 a.m.

52home

The Marriage Dance

When I was a young wife, Elisabeth Elliot mentored me through the pages of her book, Let Me Be A Woman. Then, when my daughters were teenagers, I used the book to teach them about biblical womanhood. I still refer back to it often, and recently came across this little gem. May it inspire you to embrace your God-given role in marriage today:

“It is the woman’s delighted yielding to the man’s lead that gives him freedom.  It is the man’s willingness to take the lead that gives her freedom.  Acceptance of their respective positions frees them both and whirls them into joy.” (Elisabeth Elliot, Let Me Be a Woman, p.185).

52home

1:55 p.m.

52home

In Time for Easter

This informative post comes to you courtesy of my daughter MJ, who stayed in Children’s Ministry this past Sunday for the entire service! Miracles still happen.

As I was sitting in the service (all by myself!) our pastors recommended two books just in time for Easter.

The first one, which we reviewed last year, is for adults: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross by Nancy Guthrie. It’s a collection of twenty-five short readings with contributors such as Martin Lloyd-Jones, J.C. Ryle, R.C. Sproul and more. This is one to re-read every year.

They also recommended a book for kiddos: The Very First Easter by Paul Maier. I hope to order a copy for Caly by the end of the day.

And while we are on the topic of Sunday (did I mention that I got to sit through the whole meeting?), one of my favorite preachers gave the message. Yep, my dad was speaking! In a series leading up to Easter Sunday, he preached a powerful sermon on Gethsemane. You can listen to his message here.

Thanks, MJ!

52home

10:20 a.m.

52home

Praying Work

Nicole’s post from last week reminded me of what my long-time friend Nancy Loftness calls “praying work.”
 
Nancy’s a woman who loves God’s Word, loves to pray, and deeply cares for people. When she found that she didn’t have time to pray for everyone she wanted to pray for during her morning quiet time, she came up with a plan.
 
She thought about her regular chores that didn’t require any thinking or talking—such as ironing, cleaning the bathroom, or driving by herself—and she turned those into times for prayer on behalf of friends, family, members of her church and the unsaved. Praying work.
 
Just imagine how many requests Nancy has brought before the throne of grace while in her car or working around her house!
 
Consider your week: what tasks can you turn into “praying work”?
 
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers...” Ephesians 5:16
 
“No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me.” Charles Spurgeon

52home

12:23 p.m.

52home

Friday Funnies

We're signing off with further proof that "Men Can Fix Anything."

Nicole, on behalf of my mom and sisters

52home

9:45 a.m.

52home

How to Stay Awake During Prayer

Great news--Dawn’s kids aren’t in The 5 O’Clock Club anymore!

Thanks so much again for answering my mail about the 5 O’Clock Club. Things have been going better. Thanks so much for the phone under the pillow idea.  I have also worked on not stepping on the top step of our stairs and that helps a lot too. I have been able to get up and not wake the children this last week.

Yeah! We’re so glad to hear God is helping your kids sleep and you wake up.
 
But, says Dawn, “I have one remaining problem--how to stay awake during prayer. (I have tried praying aloud—well, in a whisper--but somehow I still fall asleep.) But you have encouraged me to think creatively so I am sure I will find the answer.”
 
Been there too, Dawn. Creativity is certainly called for. Here are a few things we’ve tried—
 
-       Pray while you exercise. Mom used to prop her prayer list up on the treadmill console and pray while she exercised.

-       Pray in the shower. From an idea Mom gave me, I printed my prayer list, put it in a sheet protector and taped it to the wall of my shower. I had some of my best prayer times there—although our water bill probably went up!
 
-       Pray on a walk. When Tori was a baby, I would sometimes walk around the block with her in the stroller. This idea doesn’t work with toddlers though.
 
-       Pray as you pace. This might not work with light sleepers in the house, but Janelle gets up and walks around if she feels sleepy during prayer.
 
-       Pray after you wake up. Sometimes it helps me to pray after an activity that really wakes me up—taking a shower, emptying the dishwasher, etc. My husband often goes running sometimes before his quiet time.
 
-       Pray after coffee (or caffeinated beverage of choice). The 5 O’Clock club runs on coffee.
 
-       Pray before you pray. Ask God for grace to stay awake and pray!
 
Hope those simple ideas get you started. We’re confident God is eager to help you grow in prayer!

52home

12:46 p.m.

52home

Family Devotions for Young Children

A few weeks ago, at a meeting with the small group leaders he serves, my husband Brian interviewed Tony Reinke and his wife Karalee about their family devotions.

Tony shared three “big picture” goals and some very helpful practical ideas as well. I was inspired by this couple’s passion to train their children in the gospel and excited to try some of their practices. And I immediately thought of how much you all would love to hear this as well.

So listen to this two-minute clip and get ready to start tonight!

(P.S. Thanks to Dave Wilcox at CLC for his efforts to get us this clip, in spite of a computer crash.)

FAMILY DEVOTIONS with Tony & Karalee Reinke

(Brian's notes from Tony's comments)

1. Remind your kids of the Gospel. Ways to do this:
a) Reading the Jesus Storybook bible helps them to anticipate and/or encounter Christ in each section of Scripture
b) Sing The Gospel Song
c) Read from the Gospels.
 
Doing this has helped their children go to bed thinking of their need for a Savior and God's gracious provision.
 
2. Teach them the storyline of the Bible
Although it's 66 books, the bible provides one clear and coherent storyline.  Children's bibles like the Jesus Storybook Bible and The Big Picture Story Bible do a great job reinforcing this.
 
3. Teach them to cultivate gratefulness.
End the evening giving thanks to God and praying those who have less or who are suffering.

9:02 A.M. Telling Mom-Mom A Story

Evangelism Jitters

What if I say the wrong thing?

What if I can’t answer her questions?

What if I totally botch the conversation?

These were just a few of the fearful questions swirling around in my brain last week as I anticipated 1:00 PM on Thursday. This was the time I had arranged to meet with an unbeliever who wanted to ask me questions about God.

Come Thursday morning I “happened” to check a blog I occasionally read and here was the post for that day:

Election Fuels Evangelism

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision,  “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (AC 18.9-11)

Election and evangelism work together.  God had chosen many in Corinth – he called them “my people” – though they were not yet saved.  Because they were elect, God told Paul not to fear but keep proclaiming the gospel.  Far from producing apathy, God’s sovereignty fueled Paul’s evangelism.

God has people all around us that he sees as saved.  Let’s go on speaking and not be silent.

My apprehension immediately lifted.

This woman’s salvation was not dependent on me. God is the one who saves.

I simply needed to speak.

So speak I did. I certainly wasn’t eloquent. In fact, I don’t think I did a very good job.

Yet my deficiencies didn’t seem to diminish this woman’s interest. Even though she didn’t put her trust in Jesus Christ, she’s responding. She’s seeking.

Sitting in Starbucks that Thursday afternoon, my heart thrilled to think that perhaps she is one of God’s elect. And however feeble my effort, I know God was with me—he gave me grace to speak and not be silent.

The 52home Project

Today we’re excited to launch The 52home Project here at girltalk.

Every weekday for the next 52 weeks, Janelle will post a picture of ordinary life—our ordinary lives—as seen through the lense of her camera.

Ordinary is where we all live most of the time. And yet our mundane, repetitive days are full of enduring work. Homes are being built. Families are being knit together. Little souls are being shaped for eternity.

The tedious is, in fact, momentous—when done for the sake of Christ: “…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10).

This truth can get lost in piles of laundry and dirty dishes. We need help to see the glory peaking out from behind the ordinary.

Our hope is that you’ll see your own ordinary, yet glorious life in these pictures. That you’ll glimpse the faithfulness of God that undergirds his faithful ones. That you’ll see reflections of the eternal in the everyday.
 
“So teach us to number our days that we will get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

11:55 a.m.